Los Angeles County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Latigo Canyon for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Latigo Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WSW swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on WSW swell at 5s with light SSE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 16s with light ESE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 17s with light ESE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Latigo Canyon sits along the Malibu coast where coastal canyons create unique bathymetry that shapes incoming swells into quality beach breaks. The beach setup here offers relatively consistent peaks with a mix of sandbar formations that shift seasonally, providing varied wave quality throughout the year. This Malibu area spot works best during fall and winter swells when NW to W swell wraps around the point-rich coastline, with easterly offshore winds helping shape cleaner walls.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Latigo Canyon is 1-2ft with a 14.2s swell period. Wind is SSW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Latigo Canyon is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 19s, a 0.4ft SSW tertiary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Latigo Canyon is Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 17.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Latigo Canyon works best with a SW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Latigo Canyon. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Latigo Canyon is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Latigo Canyon sits along the Malibu coast where coastal canyons create unique bathymetry that shapes incoming swells into quality beach breaks. The beach setup here offers relatively consistent peaks with a mix of sandbar formations that shift seasonally, providing varied wave quality throughout the year. This Malibu area spot works best during fall and winter swells when NW to W swell wraps around the point-rich coastline, with easterly offshore winds helping shape cleaner walls.
The prime season at Latigo Canyon is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Latigo Canyon include localism, crowded during quality swells, rocks near canyon mouth. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Latigo Canyon forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
